Solid Finishing Device for Jackets

ABSTRACT

It is an object of this invention to rearrange an installing location for a steam separator, enable a small-sized formation of a device as well as space-saving to be realized, utilize heat outputted from the steam separator in a jacket drying process and to activate heat energy of steam. 
     This invention comprises the torso  2  on which the jacket  1  is put, the nozzle  3  for blowing steam inside the jacket  1  put on the torso  2,  the heat exchanger  4  for discharging heat of the steam inside the jacket  1  put on the torso  2,  and a steam separator  6  for removing water droplets from the steam heat exchanged with this heat exchanger  4  and having its temperature decreased. The steam having water droplets removed with the steam separator  6  is supplied to the nozzle  3.  This invention is constituted such that the cylindrical base frame  10  is arranged in its raised state below the torso  2,  the steam separator  6  is arranged within the base frame  10  together with the heat exchanger  4.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a solid finishing device for jackets (such asa jacket or a coat). More practically, this invention relates to afinishing device in which a jacket is put on a torso simulating to achest of a human body, either steam or hot air is blown against theinner part of the jacket to remove wrinkles.

2. Description of the Related Art

As a convventional device of this type, there has been provided a systemdescribed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,199,088, for example.

The related art device of this type is formed to comprise a torso onwhich a jacket is put, a nozzle for blowing steam inside the jacket puton the torso, and a heat exchanger for discharging heat of the steaminside the jacket put on the torso.

In addition, the related art device of this type is sometimes formedsuch that there is provided a steam separator for removing waterdroplets from the steam heat exchanged by the heat exchanger and ofwhich temperature is decreased.

However, the related art device of this type has been usually set suchthat the steam separator is arranged under its exposed state at the rearpart of the torso, for example.

Accordingly, in accordance with the related art device of this type,there occurred a possibility that an operator erroneously touches thesteam separator to make a burn and there was a problem that since theforward or rearward size of the device, for example, was elongated,either an installing space or an occupying space was required to bewide.

In addition, since the steam separator is warmed with steam flowed fromthe heat exchanger, the heat is dispersed from its outer surface.

However, as described above, the related art machine was made such thatthe steam separator was arranged under its exposed state at a rearwardside of the torso and the like. Accordingly, in the case of the relatedart machine, heat energy outputted from the outer surface of the steamseparator was lost and the heat energy of steam was not utilized.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

This invention has been devised in view of the problems found in therelated art.

Accordingly, the technical problem to be solved by this inventionconsists in providing the solid finishing device for jackets in whichthe installing location for the steam separator is rechecked, asmall-sized formation and space-saving of the device can be carried out,heat outputted from the steam separator is utilized for dryingprocessing for the jacket and it can be utilized sufficiently withoutapplying uselessly the heat energy of the steam.

In order to resolve such a problem as above, this invention employs suchtechnical means.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, this invention comprises atorso on which a jacket is put, a nozzle for blowing steam inside thejacket put on the torso, a heat exchanger for discharging heat of thesteam inside the jacket put on the torso, a steam separator for removingwater droplets from the steam heat exchanged with this heat exchangerand having its temperature decreased, and is characterized in that acylindrical base frame is arranged in its raised state below said torso,said steam separator is arranged within the base frame together with theheat exchanger, and the steam having water droplets removed with thesteam separator is supplied to said nozzle. (claim 1)

The device of this invention is made such that the cylindrical baseframe is arranged in its raised state below the torso in this way andthe aforesaid steam separator is arranged within the base frame togetherwith the heat exchanger.

Accordingly, in accordance with this invention, since the steamseparator is stored within an upward or downward range of the torso, aninstalling space or occupying space can be reduced and the space-savingcan be realized.

In addition, this invention can utilize heat outputted from the steamseparator for drying the jacket together with heat outputted from theheat exchanger. Accordingly, in accordance with this arrangement, ascompared with that of the related art machine for drying a jacket onlywith the heat exchanger, it is possible to make a fast jacket dryingprocessing while increasing a temperature of the hot air and the heatenergy of steam is not uselessly used.

In addition, in the case of this invention, since the steam separator isnot exposed, it is possible to prevent an operator from beingerroneously burned.

Further, since this invention is made such that the steam separator andthe heat exchanger are arranged together within the lower base frame ofthe torso, this invention enables a length of the pipe to be shortened,a piping work to be facilitated and further enables a piping cost to bereduced.

Thus, in the case of this invention, it is preferable that as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the steam separator is arranged below the heat exchangerin a lateral orientation along a forward/rearward direction of thetorso. (claim 2)

Because, in accordance with this arrangement, a flow of heat ascendingfrom the heat exchanger is not disturbed with the steam separator. Inaddition, in this case, a reason why this state occurs consists in thefact that heat outputted from the steam separator is merged with heatoutputted from the heat exchanger to increase a temperature of hot airand this can be utilized for drying the jacket. In addition, in thiscase, since the steam separator is arranged in a lateral orientation,air supplied from below the steam separator can be struck uniformlyagainst the outer peripheral surface of the steam separator and heat isdischarged efficiently. Further, in the case of this invention, ascompared with the case in which the steam separator is arranged in avertical orientation, a height of the base frame can be restricted andfurther air inlet for generating hot air can be easily formed at thelower part of the base frame.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 6 or the like, it is preferablethat a pair of right and left side presses for use in pushing andwidening both skirts of the jacket put on the torso and tensioning themare oscillatably arranged at the upper part of the raised supportingframe through a lateral shaft extending along a forward or rearwarddirection of the torso, stoppers for preventing the upper portions ofthe side presses from being inclined inwardly around said lateral shaftare arranged at both sides of the cylindrical base frame in a raisedstate. (claim 3)

Because, in accordance with this arrangement, when hot air is applied tothe skirts to cause the lower portions of the side presses to be pushedoutwardly around the lateral shaft and turned, the stoppers can preventthe upper portions of the side presses from being inclined inwardly andaccordingly it is possible to prevent the skirts from lapping with airpressure.

In addition, in this case, this invention is preferably set such thatsome protrusions contacted with the side presses to receive the sidepresses are arranged to be protruded against the sides of the torso atthe upper portions of the stoppers and the protruding length of theprotrusions is formed in such a way that it may be adjusted. (claim 4)

Because, in accordance with this arrangement, it is possible to set theinclination angles of the side presses in response to the type of jacketor its size and its finished state can be made superior.

In addition, in this case, as shown in FIG. 5 and the like, it ispreferable that the protrusions are bolts threadably fitted to the upperportions of the stoppers with their heads being faced toward the sidesof the torso. (claim 5)

Because, in accordance with this arrangement, it is possible that theadjustment of the length of the protrusion is obtained easily at a lowcost by its construction. In this case, the bolts include screws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view for showing one preferred embodiment of thedevice of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view for showing the device of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the device of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a substantial plan view showing the device of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a substantial perspective view showing a stopper.

FIG. 6 is a substantial front view illustrating an action of thestopper.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The best preferred embodiment for carrying out this invention will bedescribed as follows:

In FIG. 1 and the like, 1 denotes a jacket and 2 denotes a torso onwhich the jacket 1 is put. This torso 2 is made such that both shoulders2 a are formed in such a way that they can be expanded to a side part incompliance with the size of the jacket 1.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a nozzle for use in blowing steam inside thejacket 1 wound around this torso. As shown in FIG. 2, this nozzle 3 isconstructed such that a pair of front and rear nozzles 3 are raised.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a heat exchanger for use in dischargingsteam heat inside the jacket 1 worn on the torso 2. The heat exchanger 4is practically formed by a radiator. As shown in FIG. 2, the heatexchanger 4 is connected to a steam flow inlet 5 and then steam issupplied from this steam flow inlet 5.

In addition, 6 denotes a steam separator and a water separator for usein removing water droplets from steam of which temperature is decreasedthrough a heat exchanging with the heat exchanger 4. To this steamseparator 6 is connected a drain discharging pipe 7. The heat exchanger4 and the steam separator 6 are connected with a pipe passage 8 and thesteam separator 6 and the nozzle 3 are connected with a pipe passage 9.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a cylindrical base frame arranged below thetorso 2 under its raised state. This base frame 10 in this preferredembodiment is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape with itssectional shape being rectangular. In addition, an air flow inlet 11 isopened at the lower part of the base frame 10 and it is formed such thatair from a blower 12 can be supplied into the base frame 10 through theair flow inlet 11.

The aforesaid steam separator 6 is arranged within the base frame 10together with the heat exchanger 4. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in thecase of this preferred embodiment, the steam separator 6 is arrange atthe lower side of the heat exchanger 4 while being arranged laterallyalong a forward or rearward direction of the torso 2.

In addition, 13 denotes a pair of right and left side expanders for usein pushing and widening both side skirts of the jacket 1 put on thetorso 2 and tensioning them. The side expanders 13 are arranged atraised supporting frames 14 in such a way that they may be oscillatedthrough a lateral shaft 15 (see FIGS. 2 and 6).

Reference numeral 16 denotes stoppers for preventing the upper portionsof the side expanders 13 from being inclined inwardly around theaforesaid lateral shaft 15. The stoppers 16 are arranged at both sidesof the cylindrical base frame 10 in their raised state. As shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 or the like, the stoppers 16 are practically raisedvertically at both sides of the base frame 10, their upper portions arebent into crank shapes, the vertical raised locations 16 a are providedwith protrusions 17 contacted with the side expanders 13 to receive theside expanders 13 while being protruded to the sides of the torso 2.

The protrusions 17 in this preferred embodiment are formed by bolts.This bolt is threadably fitted to the raised location 16 a of thestopper 16 with the head 17 a being faced toward the side of the torso2. Accordingly, in the case of this preferred embodiment, a protrudinglength is adjusted by changing a screwing depth of the bolt acting asthe protrusion 17.

The side expanders 13 are set such that the lower part of the supportingframe 14 is pivoted through the shaft 19 to the extremity end of thesupporting arm 18 protruded from the side surface of the base frame 10in a horizontal direction.

Reference numeral 20 denotes an air cylinder arranged between the lowerend of the supporting frame 14 and the side surface of the base frame10. When the rod of this air cylinder 20 is retracted, the supportingframe 14 turns outwardly around the shaft 19 by a predetermined angle,the side expanders 13 apply a tension to the skirts of the jacket 1 andin turn when the rod of this air cylinder 20 extends, the supportingframe 14 turns inwardly and is arranged at its initial state.

Further, 21 denotes a pair of front and rear skirt pressers for use inpressing the front and rear skirts of the jacket 1. In addition, 22denotes air cylinders acting as driving devices for the skirt pressers21. The air cylinders acting as the driving devices 22 are arrangedbetween the lower parts of the supporting members 23 of the skirtpressers 21 and the base frame 10 in correspondence with the pair offront and rear skirt pressers 21.

When the rods of the air cylinders acting as the driving devices 22 areretracted, the skirt pressers 21 turn around the shaft rod 24 toward thetorso 2 to press against the front and rear skirts of the jacket 1 andin turn when the rods of the air cylinders acting as the driving device22 extend, the skirt pressers turn toward the front side and the rearside of the torso 2 and are moved away from the skirts.

Then, an action of this invention will be described as follows:

At first, when steam is supplied to the heat exchanger 4, heat isradiated from the heat exchanger 4, the steam is changed into hot airwith air supplied from the blower 12, ascends as hot air, the steam isblown into the jacket 1 put on the torso 2. Then, the steam of whichtemperature has been decreased through the heat exchanging operation,passes from the heat exchanger 4 through a pipe passage 8 and entersinto the steam separator 6 and water droplets are removed by the steamseparator 6 as shown in FIG. 2.

Then, the steam of which water droplets have been removed with the steamseparator 6 passes through a pipe passage 9, is sent to the nozzle 3 andthen blown from the nozzle 3 inside the jacket 1.

In addition, in the case of this invention, heat outputted from thesteam separator 6 is merged with heat outputted from the heat exchanger4, becomes high temperature hot air and is blown inside the jacket 1.

Thus, when the hot air is blown against the jacket 1, since the skirtsof the jacket 1 are usually formed in such a way that they be wideneddownwardly, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 6, the lower portions of theside presses 13 turn outwardly around the lateral shaft 15. Then, theupper portions of the side presses 13 are engaged with the heads 17 a ofthe bolts acting as the protrusions 17 as indicated in FIG. 6 as adot-dot-dash line.

With this arrangement, the upper portions of the side presses 13 areprevented from being inclined more inwardly. Accordingly, in accordancewith this invention the jacket 1 is finished neat and dried without astate in which its skirts lap.

1. A solid finishing device for jackets comprising a torso on which ajacket is put, a nozzle for blowing steam inside the jacket put on thetorso, a heat exchanger for discharging heat of the steam inside thejacket put on the torso, a steam separator for removing water dropletsfrom the steam heat exchanged with this heat exchanger and having itstemperature decreased, and characterized in that a cylindrical baseframe is arranged in its raised state below said torso, said steamseparator is arranged within the base frame together with the heatexchanger, and the steam having water droplets removed with the steamseparator is supplied to said nozzle.
 2. The solid finishing device forjackets according to claim 1, characterized in that the steam separatoris arranged below the heat exchanger in a lateral orientation along aforward/rearward direction of the torso.
 3. The solid finishing devicefor jackets according to claim 1, characterized in that a pair of rightand left side presses for use in pushing and widening both skirts of thejacket put on the torso and tensioning them are oscillatably arranged atthe upper part of the raised supporting frame through a lateral shaftextending along a forward to rearward direction of the torso, stoppersfor preventing the upper portions of the side presses from beinginclined inwardly around said lateral shaft are arranged at both sidesof the cylindrical base frame in a raised state.
 4. The solid finishingdevice for jackets according to claim 3, characterized in that someprotrusions contacted with the side presses to receive the side pressesare arranged to be protruded against the sides of the torso at the upperportions of the stoppers, and the protruding length of the protrusionsis formed in such a way that it may be adjusted.
 5. The solid finishingdevice for jackets according to claim 4, characterized in that theprotrusions are bolts threadably fitted to the upper portions of thestoppers with their heads being faced toward the sides of the torso.